HowPalomdeswentfortofghtwthtwobrethrenforthedeathofKngHermance。
　　NOWwllweleavethemmerrywthnJoyousGard，andspeakweofSrPalomdes。ThenSrPalomdessaledevenlongHumbertothecoastsofthesea，wherewasafarcastle。Andatthattmetwasearlynthemornng，aforeday。ThenthemarnerswentuntoSrPalomdesthatsleptfast。Srknght，sadthemarners，yemustarse，forheresacastlethereyemustgonto。assentme，sadSrPalomdes；andtherewthalhearrved。Andthenheblewhshornthatthemarnershadgvenhm。
　　Andwhentheywthnthecastleheardthathorntheyputforthmanyknghts；andtheretheystooduponthewalls，andsadwthonevoce：Welcomebeyetothscastle。
　　Andthentwaxedclearday，andSrPalomdesenteredntothecastle。Andwthnawhlehewasservedwthmanydversmeats。ThenSrPalomdesheardabouthmmuchweepngandgreatdole。Whatmaythsmean？
　　sadSrPalomdes；lovenottohearsuchasorrow，andfanwouldknowwhattmeaneth。ThentherecameaforehmonewhosenamewasSrEbel，thatsadthus：
　　Wtyewell，srknght，thsdoleandsorrowsheremadeeveryday，andforthscause：wehadakngthathghtHermance，andhewasKngoftheRedCty，andthskngthatwaslordwasanobleknght，largeandlberalofhsexpense；andntheworldhelovednothngsomuchashedderrantknghtsofKngArthur’scourt，andalljoustng，huntng，andallmannerofknghtlygames；forsokndakngandknghthadnevertheruleofpoorpeopleashewas；andbecauseofhsgoodnessandgentlenesswebemoanhm，andevershall。Andallkngsandestatesmaybewarebyourlord，forhewasdestroyednhsowndefault；forhadhechershedthemofhsbloodhehadyetlvedwthgreatrchesandrest：butallestatesmaybewarebyourkng。Butalas，sadEbel，thatweshallgveallotherwarnngbyhsdeath。
　　Tellme，sadPalomdes，andnwhatmannerwasyourlordslan，andbywhom。Sr，sadSrEbel，ourkngbroughtupofchldrentwomenthatnowareperlousknghts；andthesetwoknghtsourknghadsoncharty，thathelovednomannortrustednomanofhsblood，nornoneotherthatwasabouthm。Andbythesetwoknghtsourkngwasgoverned，andsotheyruledhmpeaceablyandhslands，andneverwouldtheysuffernoneofhsbloodtohavenorulewthourkng。
　　Andalsohewassofreeandsogentle，andtheysofalseanddecevable，thattheyruledhmpeaceably；andthatespedthelordsofourkng’sblood，anddepartedfromhmuntotherownlvelhood。Thenwhenthesetwotratorsunderstoodthattheyhaddrvenallthelordsofhsbloodfromhm，theywerenotpleasedwththatrule，butthentheythoughttohavemore，asevertsanoldsaw：Gveachurlruleandtherebyhewllnotbesuffced；forwhatsomeverhebethatsruledbyavllanborn，andthelordofthesoltobeagentlemanborn，thesamevllanshalldestroyallthegentlemenabouthm：
　　thereforeallestatesandlords，bewarewhomyetakeaboutyou。AndfyebeaknghtofKngArthur’scourtrememberthstale，forthsstheendandconcluson。Mylordandkngrodeuntotheforestherebybytheadvceofthesetrators，andtherehechasedatthereddeer，armedatallpecesfulllkeagoodknght；andsoforlabourhewaxeddry，andthenhealghted，anddrankatawell。Andwhenhewasalghted，bytheassentofthesetwotrators，thatonethathghtHelushesuddenlysmoteourkngthroughthebodywthaspear，andsotheylefthmthere。Andwhentheyweredeparted，thenbyfortunecametothewell，andfoundmylordandkngwoundedtothedeath。Andwhenheardhscomplant，letbrnghmtothewatersde，andnthatsameshp
　　puthmalve；andwhenmylordKngHermancewasnthatvessel，herequredmeforthetruefathoweduntohmfortowrtealetternthsmanner。
　　Thecopyoftheletterwrttenfortorevengethekng’sdeath，andhowSrPalomdesfoughtfortohavethebattle。
　　RECOMMENDNGuntoKngArthurandtoallhsknghtserrant，beseechngthemallthatnsomuchas，KngHermance，KngoftheRedCty，thusamslanbyfelonyandtreason，throughtwoknghtsofmneown，andofmneownbrngngupandofmneownmakng，thatsomeworshpfulknghtwllrevengemydeath，nsomuchhavebeenevertomypowerwellwllnguntoArthur’scourt。Andwhothatwlladventurehslfewththesetwotratorsformysakenonebattle，，KngHermance，KngoftheRedCty，freelygvehmallmylandsandrentsthateverweldednmylfe。Thsletter，sadEbel，wrotebymylord’scommandment，andthenherecevedhsCreator；andwhenhewasdead，hecommandedmeoreverhewerecoldtoputthatletterfastnhshand。AndthenhecommandedmetoputforththatsamevesseldownHumber，andshouldgvethesemarnersncommandmentnevertostntuntlthattheycameuntoLogrs，whereallthenobleknghtsshallassembleatthstme。Andthereshallsomegoodknghthaveptyonmetorevengemydeath，fortherewasneverkngnorlordfalslernortratorlerslanthan
　　amheretomydeath。ThuswasthecomplantofourKngHermance。Now，sadSrEbel，yeknowallhowourlordwasbetrayed，werequreyouforGod’ssakehaveptyuponhsdeath，andworshpfullyrevengehsdeath，andthenmayyeweldalltheselands。Forweallwtwellthatanyemayslaythesetwotrators，theRedCtyandallthosethatbetherenwlltakeyoufortherlord。
　　Truly，sadSrPalomdes，tgrevethmyheartfortohearyoutellthsdolefultale；andtosaythetruthsawthesameletterthatyespeakof，andoneofthebestknghtsontheearthreadthatlettertome，andbyhscommandmentcamehthertorevengeyourkng’sdeath；
　　andthereforehavedone，andletmewtwhereshallfndthosetrators，forshallneverbeateasenmyhearttllbenhandswththem。Sr，sadSrEbel，thentakeyourshpagan，andthatshpmustbrngyouuntotheDelectablesle，fastbytheRedCty，andwenthscastleshallprayforyou，andabdeyouragan-comng。Forthssamecastle，anyespeedwell，mustneedsbeyours；
　　forourKngHermanceletmakethscastlefortheloveofthetwotrators，andsowekepttwthstronghand，andthereforefullsorearewethreated。Wotyewhatyeshalldo，sadSrPalomdes；whatsomevercomeofme，lookyekeepwellthscastle。Forantmsfortunemesotobeslannthsquestamsuretherewllcomeoneofthebestknghtsoftheworldfortorevengemydeath，andthatsSrTrstramdeLones，orelseSrLauncelotduLake。
　　ThenSrPalomdesdepartedfromthatcastle。Andashecamenghthecty，therecameoutofashpagoodlyknghtarmedagansthm，wthhssheldonhsshoulder，andhshanduponhssword。AndanonashecamenghSrPalomdeshesad：Srknght，whatseekyehere？leavethsquestfortsmne，andmnetwasorevertwasyours，andthereforewllhavet。Srknght，sadPalomdes，tmaywellbethatthsquestwasyoursortwasmne，butwhentheletterwastakenoutofthedeadkng’shand，atthattmebylkelhoodtherewasnoknghthadundertakentorevengethedeathofthekng。Andsoatthattmepromsedtorevengehsdeath，andsoshallorelseamashamed。Yesaywell，sadtheknght，butwtyewellthenwllfghtwthyou，andwhobethebetterknghtofusboth，lethmtakethebattleuponhand。assentme，sadSrPalomdes。Andthentheydressedthershelds，andpulledouttherswords，andlashedtogethermanysadstrokesasmenofmght；andthsfghtngwasmorethananhour，butatthelastSrPalomdeswaxedbgandbetterwnded，sothatthenhesmotethatknghtsuchastrokethathemadehmtokneeluponhsknees。Thenthatknghtspakeonhghandsad：Gentleknght，holdthyhand。SrPalomdeswasgoodlyandwthdrewhshand。Thenthsknghtsad：Wtyewell，knght，thatthouartbetterworthytohavethsbattlethan，andrequretheeofknghthoodtellmethyname。Sr，mynamesPalomdes，aknghtofKngArthur’s，andoftheTableRound，thaththercametorevengethedeathofthsdeadkng。
　　OfthepreparatonofSrPalomdesandthetwobrethrenthatshouldfghtwthhm。
　　WELLbeyefound，sadtheknghttoPalomdes，forofallknghtsthatbealve，exceptthree，hadlefesthaveyou。ThefrstsSrLauncelotduLake，andSrTrstramdeLones，thethrdsmynghcousn，SrLamorakdeGals。AndambrotheruntoKngHermancethatsdead，andmynamesSrHermnd。
　　Yesaywell，sadSrPalomdes，andyeshallseehow
　　shallspeed；andfbethereslangoyetomylordSrLauncelot，orelsetomylordSrTrstram，andpraythemtorevengemydeath，forasforSrLamorakhmshallyeneverseenthsworld。Alas，sadSrHermnd，howmaythatbe？Hesslan，sadSrPalomdes，bySrGawaneandhsbrethren。SoGodmehelp，sadHermnd，therewasnotoneforonethatslewhm。Thatstruth，sadSrPalomdes，fortheywerefourdangerousknghtsthatslewhm，asSrGawane，SrAgravane，SrGahers，andSrMordred，butSrGareth，theffthbrotherwasaway，thebestknghtofthemall。AndsoSrPalomdestoldHermndallthemanner，andhowtheyslewSrLamorakallonlybytreason。
　　SoSrPalomdestookhsshp，andarrvedupattheDelectablesle。AndnthemeanwhleSrHermndthatwasthekng’sbrother，hearrvedupattheRedCty，andtherehetoldthemhowtherewascomeaknghtofKngArthur’stoavengeKngHermance’sdeath：AndhsnamesSrPalomdes，thegoodknght，thatforthemostparthefolloweththebeastGlatsant。Thenallthectymadegreatjoy，formcklehadtheyheardofSrPalomdes，andofhsnobleprowess。Solettheyordanamessenger，andsentuntothetwobrethren，andbadethemtomakethemready，fortherewasaknghtcomethatwouldfghtwththemboth。Sothemessengerwentuntothemwheretheywereatacastletherebesde；andtherehetoldthemhowtherewasaknghtcomeofKngArthur’scourttofghtwththembothatonce。Heswelcome，sadthey；buttellus，weprayyou，ftbeSrLauncelotoranyofhsblood？Hesnoneofthatblood，sadthemessenger。Thenwecaretheless，sadthetwobrethren，forwthnoneofthebloodofSrLauncelotwekeepnottohaveadowthal。Wtyewell，sadthemessenger，thathsnamesSrPalomdes，thatyetsunchrstened，anobleknght。Well，sadthey，anhebenowunchrstenedheshallneverbechrstened。Sotheyappontedtobeatthectywthntwodays。
　　AndwhenSrPalomdeswascometothectytheymadepassnggreatjoyofhm，andthentheybeheldhm，andsawthathewaswellmade，cleanlyandbgly，andunmamedofhslmbs，andnethertooyoungnortooold。
　　Andsoallthepeopleprasedhm；andthoughhewasnotchrstenedyethebelevednthebestmanner，andwasfullfathfulandtrueofhspromse，andwellcondtoned；
　　andbecausehemadehsavowthathewouldneverbechrsteneduntothetmethathehadachevedthebeastGlatsant，thewhchwasafullwonderfulbeast，andagreatsgnfcaton；forMerlnprophesedmuchofthatbeast。AndalsoSrPalomdesavowednevertotakefullchrstendomuntothetmethathehaddonesevenbattleswthnthelsts。
　　Sowthnthethrddaytherecametothectythesetwobrethren，theonehghtHelus，theotherhghtHelake，thewhchweremenofgreatprowess；howbetthattheywerefalseandfulloftreason，andbutpoormenborn，yetweretheynobleknghtsoftherhands。Andwththemtheybroughtfortyknghts，tothatntentthattheyshouldbebgenoughfortheRedCty。Thuscamethetwobrethrenwthgreatbobaunceandprde，fortheyhadputtheRedCtynfearanddamage。Thentheywerebroughttothelsts，andSrPalomdescamentotheplaceandsadthus：Beyethetwobrethren，HelusandHelake，thatslewyourkngandlord，SrHermance，byfelonyandtreason，forwhomthatamcomehthertorevengehsdeath？Wtthouwell，sadSrHelusandSrHelake，thatwearethesameknghtsthatslewKngHermance；andwtthouwell，SrPalomdesSaracen，thatweshallhandletheesoorthoudepartthatthoushaltwshthatthouwertchrstened。tmaywellbe，sadSrPalomdes，foryetwouldnotdeorwerechrstened；
　　andyetsoamnotafeardofyouboth，buttrusttoGodthatshalldeabetterchrstanmanthananyofyouboth；anddoubtyenot，sadSrPalomdes，etheryeor
　　shallbeleftdeadnthsplace。
　　OfthebattlebetweenSrPalomdesandthetwobrethren，andhowthetwobrethrenwereslan。
　　THENtheydeparted，andthetwobrethrencameaganstSrPalomdes，andheaganstthem，asfastastherhorsesmghtrun。AndbyfortuneSrPalomdessmoteHelakethroughhssheldandthroughthebreastmorethanafathom。AllthswhleSrHelushelduphsspear，andforprdeandorgulthewouldnotsmteSrPalomdeswthhsspear；butwhenhesawhsbrotherleontheearth，andsawhemghtnothelphmself，thenhesaduntoSrPalomdes：Helpthyself。AndtherewthhecamehurtlnguntoSrPalomdeswthhsspear，andsmotehmqutefromhssaddle。ThenSrHelusrodeoverSrPalomdestwceorthrce。AndtherewthSrPalomdeswasashamed，andgatthehorseofSrHelusbythebrdle，andtherewthalthehorseareared，andSrPalomdeshalpafter，andsotheyfellbothtotheearth；
　　butanonSrHelusstertuplghtly，andtherehesmoteSrPalomdesagreatstrokeuponthehelm，thathekneeleduponhsownknee。Thentheylashedtogethermanysadstrokes，andtracedandtraversednowbackward，nowsdelng，hurtlngtogetherlketwoboars，andthatsametmetheyfellbothgrovellngtotheearth。